Chapter 8
The spray force action of pressurized water against instruments being processed to physically remove bioburden
impingment
Capable of causing disease (disease-causing microorganism).
Pathogen
A collection of microorganisms that attach to surfaces and each other and form a colony. the colony produces a protective gel that is very difficult to penetrate with detergents and disinfectants
Biofilm
Vessels that carry blood away from the heart
Arteries
Relating to the destruction of bacteria
Bactericidal
The process used by an ultrasonic cleaner in which low pressure bubbles in a cleaning solution burst inward and dislodge soil from instruments
cavitation
Bacteria that can live in the absence of atmospheric oxygen
Anerobic
Term used to describe instruments or equipment that must receive priority processing in order to be made available for another procedure.
turnover/turnaround
The pathway that food takes through the digestive system; also called the digestive tract
Alimentary canal
The destruction of nearly all pathogenic microorganisms on an inanimate (non-living)surface.
disinfection
Any ingredient used to bind together substances that normally do not combine, such as oil and water.
emulsifier
The study of microorganisms. The scientific study of the nature, life and action of microorganisms
Microbiology
An inanimate object that can transmit bacteria
fomite
The largest component of blood. It transports nutrients throughout the body and helps removes waste from body parts
Plasma
The process by which all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, spores and fungi, are completely destroyed.
sterilization
A substance, typically produced by a bacterium, that produces fever when introduced / released into the blood
pyrogen
The typical method of bacterial reproduction in which a cell divides into two equal parts
Binary fission
Any activity or procedure that prevents infection or breaks the chain of infection
Aseptic technique
An organ that filters the blood to remove amino acids and neutralize some harmful toxins
Liver
The percentage concentration of the active ingredient in a disinfectant or chemical sterilant that is the minimum concentration at which the chemical meets all its labeled claims for activity against microorganisms
Minimum effective concentration
A substance that lowers the surface tension of the water and increases the solubility of organic compounds.
surfactant
Bacteria Which grows best at a temperature of 122F to 158F
Thermophiles
Occurs when microorganisms live on or in a host organism, but do not invade tissues or cause damage
colonization
The study of the structure and relationships between body parts
Anatomy
A system that divides medical devices into categories based on the risk of infection involved with their use.
Spaulding classification system